Telegraphic sending-machine.



P. DINGER.

TELEGRAPHIC SENDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. I5. 1909- Patented July 4, 1916.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PAUL DINGER, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF '10 ALBERT LYNN YLAWRENCE, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

TELEGRAPHIC SENDING-MACHINE.

Application filed April 15, 1909.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, PAUL DINGER, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, and a resident of Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga andState of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inTelegraphic Sending-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in telegraphic sending-machines,and has for its object the improvement thereof along the lines ofsimplifying the construction and operation thereof, and avoiding thegrounding of the frame of the machine. Machines of this class aredesigned primarily for assisting the operator in sending the Morsetelegraphic code of dashes and dots, by providing separate dash-makingand automatic dot-making mechanism, respectively actuated by oppositemovements of the hand or fingers.

" -The present improvements are predicated upon the sending-machineshown and described in my application, Serial No. 385,924, filed July25th, 1907 (reissue No. 13,130), wherein a vibratory weight, mounted atthe end of a flat spring or reed, is adapted to engage a co-actingspring at each vibration of the weight, and automatically transmit thedot impulses, while a vertically pivoted key-lever is adapted to closethe dash contact upon one movement, and re-' lease the dot-makingmechanism upon its reverse movement.

My present improvements comprise; first, a horizontally-pivotedkey-mechanism; second, a vertically acting key used independentlythereof; third, means for releasing and checking the movement of thevibratory weight; fourth, means for closing both the dash and the dotcontacts through a single pair of electrical contacts; and fifth, aseparate spring-closed contact for the dash impulses, together withcertain less important features which will be more readily under stoodby making reference to the accompanying drawings and specifications,whereof Figure I is a perspective view of, my improved telegraphicsending-machine showlng those parts exterior of the containing andsupporting base. Fig. II is a perspective view of the operative parts ofmy improved sending-machine, which illustrates Specification of LettersPatent.

Patented July 4, 1916.

Serial No. 490,041.

the circuit connections thereof, as well, certain parts being brokenaway for the purposes of illustration. Fig. III is a small fragmentaryview of a modification, wherein one pair of contacts alone is used. Fig.IV is another fragmentary view showing a simple form of spring-closurefor the dash contact; and Fig. V is a detail showing modified means foractuating the stop lever.

Throughout the several figures of the drawings, I have indicated similarparts by the same character of reference, to avoid confusion inreferring thereto.

Vithin the chambered base Z), the lever a is pivoted upon the horizontaltrunnions a. Protruding through openings in the base are the suitablyspaced finger-pieces a, by means of which said lever may be actuated byan easy rocking movement of the hand, as opposed to the lateral swing ofa vertically pivoted key-lever, or the vertical movement of the handrequired by the ordinary Morse-key. This rocking movement of the hand,has been demonstrated to permit of more ready and less trying operationof the sending-machine, than does any other type of key-movement withwhich I am acquainted. One arm of said lever a is adapted toelectrically engage contact 0 forming one terminal of the telegraphiccircuit. This is essentially an ordinary Morse-key contact, constructed,however, to be closed by the rocking movement of the operators hand. Forthe purpose of avoiding the grounding of the frame and key-parts, Icommonly provide a leaf contact spring 0, which is adapted to beactuated by said lever arm a from which it is insulated, against thecontact 0, thereby closing the dash contact directly, and simplifyingthe electrical construction of my improved sending-machine. Preferably,however, I close both the dot and dash impulses through a single pair ofcontacts, as I will explain later.

The opposite arm a of the lever is primarily designed for the release ofthe automatic dot making apparatus, so that upon the actuation of thefinger-pieces a to the left, the dash contact will be suitably closed,and upon moving them to the right, the dot making mechanism will befreed to auto matically transmit brief impulses over the line, asrequired. The latter depends for its actuation upon the vibratory effectof a weighted reed, comprising thespring cl and the weight d, with whichis associated a controlling spring 6 and governing screw mechanism e.

The reed is normally under slight tension or flexure by reason of theengagement of the vertical lever 7" with the weight, which in turn isacted upon by the spring f, controlled by the adjusting screw f, whichacts upon said lever through the curved and rearwardly connected link 7,substantially in line with the pivotal mounting of the lever. The end oflever a bears directly against the base of lever f, interiorly of itspivotal point, and is held closely in engagement therewith by means ofthe pivoted strap 9 and co-acting spring g adjustable by the screw g.Adjustable stop screws 72. h are respectively provided for the weightand for the lever. It will be appreciated that the touch of thisinstrument should be as light as possible, since it must be actuated agreat many thousand times a day by the operator, and by connecting thespring 7" in the manner described, said touch becomes lighter as thelever f is moved to free the weight, while the latter is normally andinstantly held quiescent upon releasing said lever. As thus mounted, theactuating lever f, accordingly operates against spring f to free thevibratory reed, and against spring 9' to close the contact at 0; beingnormally held in a median or neutral position by said springs. IVhen thevibratory reed is freed, its contact cl is adapt ed to be repeatedlyengaged intermittently with the contact 2' carried by the spring 2',which springs respectively form terminals of the telegraphic circuit, asthe former is mounted upon the post 7' to which one contact of the outercircuit is led directly, while the other is carried by strap 71,connected with the opposite side of the circuit.

Some operators, long accustomed to the use of the Morse-key, prefer asimilar move ment in a sending-machine, and, accordingly, I haveprovided such a key-lever in the finger-piece 7a, which is connected tolever a by means of the extension A. A slight downward pressure of thekey 7:, will serve, as in the ordinary l\Iorse-key to close the dashcontact a, while a slight lifting or upward movement will, just aspreviously explained, release the automatic dot making mechanism. Thiskey, moreover, affords relief for the arm and hand when tired by longuse of the finger-pieces a", although for continued use, thelateral-rocking keymechanism is much to be preferred, and indeed thefinger-piece 7; may be altogether omitted. The ordinary circuit closingswitch Z is shown upon the right, adapted to engage the strap z" and cutthe instrument out of circuit When not in use.

Although I have described above, means for closing both the dash and dotcontacts, through the medium of separate springs, under manycircumstances it is desirable to provide but a single pair of contacts,and, accordingly, I have accomplished this by employing the pivotedlever m, which is connected by means of the flat spring m, to beactuated by the movement of the lever arm The said lever preferably isprovided with a screw-adjusting insulated point m", which bears againstthe spring '5, and upon the inward movement of said lever, serves toclose the spring contact against that carried by the reed d. Thus thestop lever f and the actuating lever m are moved alternatiwly by levera, respectively to free the automatic dot making mechanism, or aotuatethe opposing spring thereof into engagement with the reed contact, forclosing the dash impulses. The extended end a of the lever is insulatedin this instance, and affords merely an adjustable stop checking themovement of the parts. This end of the spring may be actuated againstthe tension of the flat spring 0, thereby simplifying the mechanism byomitting the adjustable spring g, or the same may be retained as well,for the purposes of adjustment, if desired. In the first case, however,the lever arm a requires but a single upwardly engaging bearing point a,as shown in Fig. V, and the pivoted strap 9 may be omitted as well.Inasmuch as lever a is horizontally pivoted, I have provided means forsecuring the longitudinal adjustment thereof, and in consequence, thatof its hearing point a, by means of the screw-adjusted trunnion-bearingsn n. Thus, by shifting the lever within its bearings, to the left,detent lever f will be given less movement than when the parts are inthe position shown in said figure.

The preferred embodiments of the several features of improvement hereinsought to be patented, have now been explained and their purposesgenerally referred to, but I do not deem said improvements strictlylimited to the apparatus herein shown, and accordingly claim thefollowing 1. In a telegraphic sending-machine, the combination withautomatic interrupter-apparatus and secondary circuit-closin mechanism,of common key mechanism or controlling the same respectively, comprisinga horizontally pivoted member having an upwardly-extending finger-pieceadapted to be rocked in opposite directions, substantially as set forth.

2. A telegraphic key mechanism, comprising suitable contacts and amember pivotally mounted for substantially horizontal actuationcontrolling the same, having upwardlyextending oscillatingfinger-mechanism,

whereby said member is adapted to be actuated in either direction fromthe normal position, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination in a telegraph key, of suitable contacts andactuating-mechanism therefor, comprising connected finger-piecesrespectively movable substantially in horizontal and vertical planes,whereby undue strain may be avoided in operating the key, substantiallyas set forth.

4. The combination in a telegraphic sending-machine, with an interrupterdevice and auxiliary circuit-closing mechanism, of actuating meanstherefor, comprising a horizontally pivoted lever, upwardly-extendingfinger-pieces therefor, and a laterally positioned finger-piece, wherebythe sending machine may be actuated either by a horizontal rocking orvertical movement of the operators hand, substantially as set forth.

5. In a telegraphic sending-machine, the combination with automaticinterrupter mechanism adapted to send the dot impulses, a resilientspring-closed dash contact mechanism, and means for alternativelyreleasing the interrupter or closing the resilient dashcontact,substantially as set forth.

6. In apparatus of the class described, the combination with a weightedvibratory reed, of contacts adapted intermittently to be closed thereby,a vertically pivoted detentmember normally engaging the weighted reed, aspring therefor connected substantially in line with its pivotalmounting, a

controlling lever for the detent, and an opposing spring normallyretaining said lever in engagement with the detent, substantially as setforth.

7. In apparatus of the class described. the combination with a weightedvibratory reed, of contacts adapted intermittently to be closed thereby,a vertically pivoted detentmember normally engaging the weighted reed, aspring therefor connected substantially in line with its pivotalmounting, a controlling lever for the detent, and a pivoted membernormally causing the engagement of the lever with said detent,substantially as set forth.

8. In apparatus of the class described, the combination with interruptermechanism, of an actuatable detent therefor, key levermechanism engagingand adapted to actuate the detent, and means for shifting the posi-Ooples of this patent may be obtained for tion of engagement of saidparts, whereby the movement of the detent may be varied, substantiallyas set forth.

9. In apparatus of the class described, the combination with a Vibratoryinterrupter mechanism, of a pivoted detent normally restraining saidinterrupter, an actuating lever engaging said detent and adapted to freethe interrupter, and an adjustable pivotal mounting for said lever,adapted to shift its point of engagement with the detent, substantiallyas set forth.

10. In a telegraphic sending-machine, the combination with a weightedvibrating reed, of an opposing spring with which it is adaptedintermittently to contact, detent means for the reed, a circuit-closinglever for the spring, and suitable key mechanism connected for thealternative actuation of said detent mechanism or circuit-closingmechanism, whereby the dot and dash impulses may be transmitted,substantially as set forth.

11. In apparatus of the class described, the combination with a weightedvibratory reed interrupter, of a vertically pivoted detent membernormally restraining the same, a spring therefor, a controlling leverfor the detent, a pivoted member normally engaging the lever with saiddetent, and an adjustable spring for said member, substantially as setforth.

12. In apparatus of the class described, the combination with aninterrupter mechanism, of a spring-actuated detent therefor, a pivotedspring-opposed controlling lever, and means for adjusting the pivotalmounting thereof to regulate the movement of the detent, substantiallyas set forth.

13. A manual circuit-closer, comprising suitable contacts, means forclosing them, and a horizontally-pivoted finger-actuated member having asubstantially vertical finger-piece swinging in the upper arc of a\ertically-described circle, connected to actuate different contactswhen swung to either side of its normal position, substantially as setforth.

Signed at Cleveland, Ohio, this 12th day of April, 1909.

PAUL DINGER. [n s1 lVitnesses:

ALBERT LYNN LAWRENCE, CHARLES S. BEARDSLEY.

five cents each, by addressing the "Commissioner of Petentu, vWuhington, D. G." i

